Ghost Screens and Actions

By Dr. James Gels, From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook
"Helping coaches coach better..."

What is a Ghost screen?

Have you ever had a situation where your team is running a pick and roll play but your screener does a poor job screening and never makes contact - and yet the play worked anyway? It's a little like that.

Simply, a ghost screen is a faked screen where the screener does not actually make contact with the defensive player, but instead sprints away at the last second to an open spot. This usually results in good perimeter spacing by stretching the defense and often either (1) opens a driving lane for the ball-handler, or (2) creates an open shot for the screener (if his defender helps on the ball-handler).

The ghost screener slowly jogs toward the ball as if to set a ball-screen, but then quickly sprints away. Slowly jogging allows the defense time to recognize that a ball-screen (pick and roll) is coming and affects the way the defenders react to a potential screen. The defenders may be unsure whether to switch, hedge the screen, or stay with their man. This indecision can result in the ghost screener getting open for a pass and shot, or the ball handler being able to attack with the dribble or shoot an open outside shot. Defensive mis-matches can also occur.

Ghost screens often work well against good man-to-man defensive teams who like to switch ball-screens. Ghost screens can create a quick open perimeter shot when you are late in the shot clock, or on an out-of-bounds play. A ghost screen is also a great way to get your quick ball-handler a dribble-drive lane to the hoop.

Actions off the ghost screen

The ghost "screener" has two possible actions - flare and slip.

1. Flare

   After jogging up to set the ghost screen, the screener instead quickly cuts over (flares) to an open spot on the 3-point arc for a pass and open shot. Obviously this works well if your screener is also a good outside shooter. See "Ghost Screen and Flare".

2. Slip

   Here the screener jogs up to fake the screen but, instead of popping out to the arc, quickly back-cuts (slips) to the hoop for the pass and layup. See "Ghost Screen and Slip".

The ball-handler's options include the dribble-drive attack, or a pull up jump shot, or a pass to the open ghost screener either on the arc or slipping to the hoop.

Next we'll look at some actions.

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Ghost with Dribble-Drive

A ghost screen will often open a driving lane for the ball-handler. Here O5 ghost screens for O1, and O1 dribble-drives to the hoop. Notice that O4 down-screens for O3 to occupy the helpside defenders.

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Ghost Screen and Flare

The ghost screener can flare cut to an open spot on the arc. He will often be open as his defender may hedge on the ball. The screener should be a good outside shooter.

O2 slides down to the corner. O3 ghost screens and flares to the right wing for the pass from O1, and the 3-point shot.

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Ghost Screen and Slip

This counter action works well after a successful ghost-and-flare or a ghost-and-dribble-drive. Here the ghost screener O5 fakes the ball-screen and quickly back-cuts (slips) to the hoop for the pass from O1.

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Double Ghost Screens and Dribble-Drive

You may combine more than one ghost screen. In the diagrams below, O3 first ghost screens for O1, and flares to the left arc. If O3 does not get the pass, he moves down to the corner. Next (diagram 2) O4 ghost screens for O1 and moves to the left arc. O1 dribble-drives the gap created by the ghost screens. O2 is available in the corner for a kick-out pass if the X2 defender helps inside (diagram 3).

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Zipper to Ghost Screen and Flare

You may combine other actions and screens with ghost screens. Here (see diagrams below) we show O2 makes a "zipper" cut (around O4) to the top, and then ghost screens for O1, and flares to the left arc. O2 gets the pass and open 3-point shot (diagram 2).

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Transition with Ghost Screen and Flare

Using a ghost fake screen in transition may catch the defense unawares, and result in a quick open shot. Here O2, O3 and O5 sprint down the floor in transition (see diagram below). O4 cuts inside and O5 slides over (diagram 2). O2 comes up and ghost screens for O1, and then flares to the left arc area. O1 passes to your shooter O2 for the quick 3-point shot (diagram 3).

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